The Portland daily press., 1887-10-13
An Important Communication from
Dr. Cerrish.

There are now in the city, as reported TO
the Board Of Health, sixteen cases of diph-
liberia. Yesterday two new cases were re-
ported, one on Prospect and one on Cotton
street. The latter case proved fatal. The
cases that have been reported are confiued to
no particular locality; they are spread over
the city. There is no occasion for alarm If
people will observe ordinary precautions.
When it is suspected that member Of a
household is suffering from diphtheria, the
case should be Immediately reported to the
Board of Health. and. Of course, every ply
sician will not only report his own cases but
take every precaution in regard to spreading
the diseases. Loose talk Is only alarming.
RumOrs have been rife that there we're
twenty cases near the Butler School; that
the DOlan Block was full of patients, when
the fact is that while, at different times,
there n any have been two or three cases in
the vicinity Of that school, there is but one
In existence at present, ana in the latter
building there were three cases, members of
Swedish family. two of whom have died.
There is also talk that some physicians do
not report cases which of course no self
respecting physician could fail to do.
Yesterday Col. G. b. Merrill, supervisor,
saw fit to order the Centre street school
closed because he understood that a pupil Of
that school had died Of diphtheria.
The following letter from DIR. f. ii. Ger
rish will be read with interest and its advice
should be well needed:
To the Editor Of the Press:
Dear Sir:-Being desired by the Superin-
| tendent of Schools to MAKE public state
ment regarding the prevalence of diphtheria
In the city, and the proper course to pursue
| IN the premises. i beg you to allow me a
| quest.
| As far as l have been able to learn diph-
| liberia Is not as prevalent in Portland as 1t
has been in some previous years. That there
are msny cases Is undeniable. and nobody in
/ authority has any disposition to conceal the
fact, all who are familiar with the history Of
sanitation believing that publicity is an ele-
ment in protection. But there is not the
| smallest occasion for panic. We have now
a. good law relating to this. subject; and, If
| citizens Will but comply with its easily un-
derstood provisions, the disease will be
| practically stamped out within month.
The statute requires every householder in
whose family case of diphtheria occurs to
report 1t to the local board of health within
twenty-four hours; the board placards the
| house, directs the isOlatiOd of the patient,
informs the teachers in the district Of the
| existence Of the case, and they exclude from
their school all who come from the infected
family. When the disease terminates,
thorough disinfeetion is practised. Diph-
liberia Is a highly contagious disease; but, if
these rules are observed. its spread may be
limited to very few cases.
Our local board Of health is entitled to
great cOmmendation for its efficiency; but 1t
is too much to expect it to know of cases
which are not reported. IL our citizens will
do their duty by complying with the plain
dictates of the law, they will have no reason
to complain Of inactivity on the part Of the
heavy fine.
Yours truly,
FREDERIC HENRY GERRIsH,
President State Board of Health.